This Selected Issues paper analyzes the decentralization of government in the Union of the Comoros and its economic management functions foreseen under the constitution. The paper examines the special challenge of combining a civil service reform needed to increase the efficiency of the civil...

This Selected Issues paper examines the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in the recent acceleration of labor productivity growth in the United States. The analysis reveals that the increase of total factor productivity (TFP) growth is a broad phenomenon that encompasses...

This paper examines Zambia’s Request for a Three-Year Arrangement Under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Through end-March, most of the key quantitative benchmarks and six of the eight structural benchmarks under the Staff-Monitored Program (SMP) were observed. The...

This Selected Issues paper for Romania reports that the practice of nonpayment and arrears accumulation has been widespread in Romania. Managers of enterprises that remain in the pipeline for privatization for long periods of time have little incentive to reduce arrears. The state contributed to...

This 2004 Article IV Consultation for Poland highlights that with strong exports and robust consumption, its GDP growth picked up gradually, reaching 6.9 percent (year over year) in the first quarter of 2004. Nevertheless, investment growth remains moderate. Financial markets have been...

This Selected Issues paper for Botswana highlights the macroeconomic impact of an effectively implemented National Strategic Framework (NSF) program. The NSF is anchored on the goals of prevention, care, and support; management of the national response; economic impact mitigation; and provision...

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Annual Progress Report (PRSPs) on Ghana explains macroeconomic, structural, and social policies in support of growth and poverty reduction, as well as associated external financing needs and major sources of financing. The Annual Progress Report (APR)...

Bolivia’s Third Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement and Request for Waiver of Nonobservance of Performance Criteria are discussed. The highly dollarized financial system suffered a renewed deposit run in October 2003, and conditions in the financial sector have remained fragile in 2004....

In recent years, the IMF has released a growing number of reports and other documents covering economic and financial developments and trends in member countries. Each report, prepared by a staff team after discussions with government officials, is published at the option of the member country

This paper reviews Indonesia’s 2004 Article IV Consultation and Post-Program Monitoring Discussions. The Article IV consultation provided a timely opportunity to assess achievements under recent IMF arrangements and to take stock of remaining challenges. The discussions focused on policies to...